the only illustrations of art included in the show – 2 images by MICHAEL BELL-SMITH, from his ‘Action Hack’, single channel video loops. 2007 – are of a purely visual/plastic ‘explosive’ nature.

“This exhibit features work in a variety of media by artists who address the character, meaning, and implications of explosions – from the intensity of an impending event to the sensation of the release and the reverberations of the ensuing shock waves.” – PRESS RELEASE

are they kidding – are they being just ‘super’ casual – as in, museum ‘hyper academic flat’ speak – do they mean solely plastic “artistic explosions” – is there any political content. I mean explosions can kill – it isn’t exactly that pretty a topic as they make out – and, there’s nothing as yet – to give any indication on the website.
The only illustrations on the card are of ‘plastic’ / purely visual “explosions” by MICHAEL BELL-SMITH. That is definitely worth seeing, don’t get me wrong – its just the wording of that brief press release & the casualness of the title: ‘BLOWN AWAY’ that has me shaking my head. is that a clue to the nature of the show ?
do they just mean BLOWN AWAY as in WOWED !! – I mean, BLOWN AWAY – esp in an explosion – can mean having your body blown to parts. and yet the card and show is presented in such an up-beat way.
I mean they actually are screening MICHELANGELO ANTONIONI’S famous film ‘BLOWUP’ (1966)
as part of the program – with apanel discussion title, get this – “Rupture in FILM’ featuring U of I faculty members.
but, we also note GERHARD RICHTER & THOMAS RUFF are in the show – so that’s a possibility for some thematic and possibly political – as well as purely plastic explosions.
Maybe they have that great computer generated series of photographs by THOMAS RUFF – on the WORLD TRADE CENTER disaster/explosion ? This drop-dead amazing series of photographs were shown in March 2001 at DAVID ZWIRNER, in a THOMAS RUFF exhibit simply titled: ‘New Work’.
I think, (that’s I think) – they were priced at $80,000 a piece, in a very limited edition, even at that time.
here’s one from our archives:
THOMAS RUFF, from his SPRING 2005 show: ‘New Work’, at DAVID ZWIRNER GALLERY.
PHOTO: NANCY SMITH/artloversnewyork. MARCH 11, 2005
see a few more pix from that show: here !! – 3rd row down

KRANNERT ART MUSEUM
note: no images/or content on this show at all – as of post time.
(JAN 24, 2008)